Shoe-protector



(No Model.) 7

. J. O. SHARPLESS.

SHOE PROTECTOR.

No. 601,529. Patented Mar. 29, 1898.

nmessgs I/ENTOH I I a A TTOHNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-lNO. SHARPLESS, OF FAIRHAVEN, WASHINGTON.

SHOE-I' ROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 601,529, dated March 29, 1898.

I Application filed April 16, 1897. Serial N0. 63 2,502. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN O. SHARPLESS, of Fairhaven, in the county of Whatcoin and State of Washington, have invented a. new

and Improved Shoe-Protectoxyof which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a shield for footwear, especially adapted to protect a boot or shoe at the fore quarter or sides when the wearer is engaged in coasting.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the protector that it will be light, durable, and economic and may be quickly, securely, and conveniently applied.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device shown in position on a shoe, the latter being drawn in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a shoe and the protector applied to the same. I

The body of the protector consists of a shield A, which is made of metal or other hard material, preferably of a spring nature,the shield being shaped to the fore quarter of the shoe and the outer edge of the sole.- The lower edge of the shield is bent inward at an angle to the body, forming a flange A, which bears against the bottom of the sole of the shoe when the shield is worn, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. The shield is provided at its .inner side with an extension B, adapted to fit to the inner side portion of the shoe to'a point near the instep. The lower margin of the shield and its extension, together with theflange A, will-completely cover the portions of the sole that are exposed in coasting.

A wire 0, preferably a spring-wire, is secured to the inner edge of the shield and its extensiomthe attachment being usually made is carried across the instep of the sole to the outside of the shoe, thence upwardly and rearwardly, as shown at 11, to the back of the shoe at a point over the counter. The wire 12, which leaves the rear end of the shield at the outside, is crossed over to the inside of the shoe, being passed over the wire 11, and the wire 12 is carried upward and rearward at the inside of the shoe, as shown at 12 in Fig. 1, to an engagement with the back of the shoe near the counter and to an engagement also with the opposing upwardlycarried portion of the wire 11*. Both ends of the attaching-wire are made to terminate in hooks 13, which overlap at the back of the shoe, and, together with the flange on the shield,effectuallyprevent the latter from dropping off. Any approved form of a lock may be employed where the twowires meet at the back of the shoe,'if found necessary.

This protector is especially adapted for use on boys shoes when coasting and is desired to prevent the fore quarter and sides of the shoe and the edges of the sole from the wear incident to suchsport.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A protector for shoes and other footwear, consisting of a shield shaped to cover the fore quarter of the shoe, an inward-projecting marginal flange adapted to engage the bottom of the sole, and spring-wires secured to the shield by having the upper edge of the shield rolled over the wires, said wires extending from the rear ends of the shield and being crossed and then carried upward and backward whereby said wires are adapted to rest on the shoe-shank and clasp the counter of the shoe and thereby hold the shield upon the shoe.

2. A protector for boots, shoes and other footwear, consisting of a shield shaped to the fore quarter of a shoe and provided with an inwardly extendi'ng horizontal flange arranged for engagement with the bottom of the sole, and spring-wires carried over the end portions of the shield at the bottom, the said wires being crossed and carried upward and backward, having their upper ends curved in a manner to clasp the shoe, substantially as described.

3. A protector for boots, shoes and other articles of footwear, consisting of a shield shaped to the fore quarter of ashoe and having its inner end portion longer than its outer end portion, the shield being provided with a bottom marginal flange extending inwardly and adapted for engagement with the sole of the shoe, and a wire secured to the rear marginal portion of the shield, the ends of the [0 Wire being carried from the shield one over the other and then given an upward and in- Ward inclination, the terminals of the Wire being arranged for locking engagement with the boot or shoe at a point near the counter, as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN O. SHARPLESS.

Vitnesses:

B. W. BENSON, JEssE A. FRYE. 

